David thorpe lee



(No Model.)

D. T. LEE. BDOT QR SHOE STRETGHER.

No; 448,352. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

{ii 522 v w 7 ing or keeping in shape the vamp or front of 7 proved stretcher-tree.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID THORPE LEE, OF MAIDENHEAD, ENGLAND.

BOOT OR SHOE STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,352, dated March 17, 1891..

Serial No. 368,679. (No model.)

To all whOm it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID THORPE LEE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Maidenhead, in the county of Berkshire, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Boot or Shoe Stretcher Trees, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a cheap and efficient boot or shoe tree and stretcher designed more especially for stretcha shoe or boot and for providing a suitable handle for holding during the blacking or dressing of such shoe or boot.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the im It comprises the two corresponding stretching-halves A A, which are connected together at their rear ends by the removable screwthreaded pin 13, and are likewise connected at or near the middle by the spiral spring 0, of considerable strength. The gap between the parts A A may be filled toward the front with the filling-piece G, of the same external shape. The pin B serves also as a pivot for the lever H, which latter is provided with an indefinite number of holes H so that the pin may be passed through whichever hole is most convenient for setting the tree to suit the particular shoe, &c., to be stretched. The lever 11 is shaped, as shown, with the heel projection H, the handle H and preferably, also, with the sole or lifting projection H The shape of the outline of the lever intermediate of these parts is immaterial, providing the parts 11 and H particularly are located to act as described herein.

The handle H being bent over toward the heel, the stretchers A A are pushed into the toe of the shoe or boot and the tree thrust well down into the shoe or boot, and the handle H is pressed forward, whereby the part H presses within the heel, driving the stretchers forward into the toe and also raising the stretchers against the instep by the direction of the pressure on the pivot B, owing to the relative positions now occupied by the parts. The beveled shape of the lever H thrusts the stretchers A A apart when so inserted and fixed in place. A reverse movement of the handle H toward the heel displaces the heelpiece 131'. The heel-piece having been thus displaced or drawn in, the stretcher may be removed. J are holes for receiving cornkuobs in the known manner.

The improved stretchers may be made of wood or any suitable material I claim In a boot or shoe stretcher tree, the combination of the two parts A A with the expanding-spring O, forming a toe-stretching piece, and the lever II, pivoted on the rear end thereof, said lever having the handle H and the heel projection H relatively located for action, substantially as set forth.

It witness whereof I have signed this'specification in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID THORPE LEE. itmssex H. I. HADDON, A. J. IIADDON. 

